Basic information about the #CURE project

Project name:

Strengthening cross-border excellence in the development of solar technology for efficient removal of CECs from water

Shortened project name:

#CURE

Project status:

Project in progress

EU financial support (ERDF):

685,987.88 €

Project implementation period:

18.05.2025 – 31.12.2028

Cooperation partners and contact persons:

• Lead partner: Technical University of Liberec, Ing. Mgr. Lukáš Dvořák Ph.D.
• Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung Dresden e.V.

Objectives and content:

The #CURE project significantly contributes to the prevention, mitigation and resolution of environmental risks by focusing on the removal of CECs and limiting their spread to recipients.

The project uses photocatalysis, which is considered one of the most promising and environmentally friendly technologies for the removal of these substances. Although photocatalysis has significant potential, its wider application is still limited by the lower efficiency and lifetime of the photocatalyst in real conditions. The project therefore aims to overcome these obstacles by developing a suitable type of photocatalyst and an effective method of its fixation in the system, while also emphasizing environmental and energy sustainability/low-demanding.

The #CURE project has two main objectives: i) to strengthen cross-border research excellence through close and systematic cooperation based on the use of the expertise of TUL and IPF in the development of innovative wastewater treatment technology. ii) to develop and verify an innovative energy-efficient wastewater treatment technology (pilot plant) with a volume of approximately 300–500 liters using solar energy, which will be based on a combination of cross-linked polymeric highly porous materials with high sorption capacity enriched with bismuth-based photocatalytic nanoparticles, which have a strong photocatalytic effect due to the production of reactive oxygen species under the influence of visible light.

This innovative principle, which will be used in the developed technology, will ensure the required efficiency of removal of selected CECs from real municipal wastewater, namely carbamazepine, diclofenac and BPA (selected CECs) will be removed with at least 80% efficiency. For this purpose, the developed technology (in the form of a fully functional pilot plant) will be verified and optimized for selected municipal wastewater treatment plants, i.e. under real operating conditions.

This initiative is fully in line with the 6th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) defined by the UN and at the same time fully reflects the requirements of the amended EU Directive (91/271/EEC) on urban wastewater treatment.

The results of the #CURE project will thus contribute to improving the quality of water discharged into water recipients while at the same time reducing the energy consumption necessary for its operation. In this way, on the one hand, the requirements for improving water quality will be met, and on the other hand, the energy consumption spent on wastewater treatment processes will be reduced, as required by Article 11 of the amended EU Directive 91/271/EEC. Thus, purified and high-quality water can be efficiently reused for a wide range of purposes, thereby contributing to the conservation and protection of primary water resources.